Niroga
Institute, Inc.
2455 Bowditch Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: 510-883-1250 Fax: 510-336-7060
Website: www.niroga.org
Email: tamara@niroga.org
Contacts
CEO: Bidyut (B.K.) Bose
Other contacts: Tamara Perkins, Program Director, 510-734-7776, tamara@niroga.org
Year Incorporated: 2005
Category:
Service Provider
Mission Statement:
Niroga's mission is to foster health and well being through the practice of Yoga, for at-risk and underserved individuals and families, by outreach and education.
History/Goals/Objectives:
Niroga is a Sankrit word which means `freedom from disease' or integral health - health of body, mind, and spirit. Niroga's purpose is threefold; to provide community outreach, develop Yoga educational tools, and scientifically document the health benefits of Yoga Therapeutics. Niroga was incorporated in early 2005, although our founder has been working with at-risk populations in the community for several years. The healing benefits of Yoga have been shown to extend to our physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well being. The practice of Yoga induces positive transformation in a natural, holistic, organic, and integrated way. Its health and fitness benefits extend to all our major physical systems, and leads to increased flexibility, endurance, balance, and strength. Its psychological benefits include stress reduction, anger management, enhanced self-esteem and increased self-confidence. Its spiritual benefits include self-awareness, mindfulness, and introspection, with increased ability to act rather than to react, and that too from a principled conscience. Transformational Dynamic for at-risk youth Niroga believes that problems of family dysfunction and social alienation can be transformed through personal and community experience of sound mind-body practices. Extensive research has demonstrated that Yoga, meditation, and other mind-body disciplines have enduring benefits for many chronic conditions, anxiety, stress reduction, depression, addiction, etc., and allow us to realize and manifest our full potential in thought and action. Census data on juvenile delinquency indicates that about 15% of our population consists of at-risk juveniles, and that the sharpest increases year-over-year in numbers of juveniles in residential placement occurs between the ages of 12 and 15. Niroga places a high priority in providing tools to transform and empower at-risk youth at this vulnerable age, because of their potential to significantly impact the huge societal cost of juvenile delinquency. Niroga Yoga is designed to build and sustain a personal transformative practice, and it is critical to provide frequent and regular participation, for any lasting benefit. Program Benefits for youth, families, and staff The IDEAL Yoga program aims to: Enhance external and internal strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance Increase self-awareness, self-image, and self-esteem Enhance self-confidence, self-control, stress-resilience, and anger-management skills Increase focus, attention, and concentration to strengthen academic potential and improve academic performance in youth, and reduce violence
Target Populations:
Elementary
Middle
High
Male
Female
Disabled
LGBTQ
Staff Capacity: 3
3 volunteer staff 5 board members 27 Contractors (Yoga Corps instructors)
Language Capacity (other than English): Spanish
Organizational Operating Budget: $200,000 or below
Geographic Areas Served (current):
District 1 (North Oakland- Rockridge, Temescal, Claremont)
District 3 (West Oakland/Downtown - West Oakland, Jack London)
District 5 (East Oakland - Fruitvale)
District 7 (East Oakland - Coliseum)
Geographic Areas for Expanded Service:
Citywide